🦠 Chagas Disease
Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is a potentially life-threatening parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. It is mainly found in Central and South America, but also occurs in non-endemic regions due to migration.
🧬 Cause
- Caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi
- Transmitted primarily by the “kissing bug” (Triatomine bug), which:
- Bites at night, usually on the face
- Leaves parasite-infected feces near the bite
- Parasite enters the body when a person scratches the bite
📌 Other Modes of Transmission
- Blood transfusion
- Organ transplant
- From mother to child (congenital)
- Contaminated food or drink (rare)
⚠️ Stages & Symptoms
1️⃣ Acute Stage (First 1–2 months)
- Often mild or asymptomatic
- If symptoms occur:
- Fever, fatigue
- Body aches
- Swelling at the site of parasite entry (chagoma)
- Romaña’s sign: Swelling of one eye (if entry is near the eye)
- Enlarged liver, spleen, or lymph nodes
- Parasites are present in the blood
2️⃣ Chronic Stage
- May remain silent for decades
- 20–30% develop serious complications years later:
- Cardiac problems: Arrhythmias, heart failure, sudden death
- Digestive problems: Enlarged esophagus (megaesophagus) or colon (megacolon) → difficulty swallowing, constipation
- Neurological issues (less common)
🧪 Diagnosis
- Acute phase:
- Direct detection of parasites in blood (microscopy or PCR)
- Chronic phase:
- Serologic tests (to detect antibodies)
- Multiple tests may be needed to confirm
💊 Treatment
- Antiparasitic medications:
- Benznidazole (first-line)
- Nifurtimox
- Most effective in acute phase and in children
- May reduce progression in chronic phase, especially if treated early
- Supportive care for heart or digestive complications
🛡️ Prevention
- Vector control (insecticide spraying, sealing cracks in homes)
- Screening of blood and organ donors
- Prenatal screening in endemic areas
- Avoiding raw or contaminated food and drink
🌍 Distribution
- Endemic in 21 Latin American countries
- Estimated 6–7 million people infected globally
- Increasingly seen in the U.S., Europe, and other non-endemic areas due to migration
✅ Key Points
- Chagas disease is curable if treated early
- Cardiac and digestive complications can be severe or fatal
- Vector control and screening are essential for public health